Predimensionamiento de muro de contención para ampliación de la vía Limón de la ciudad de Machala

Abstract

The issue of road safety in Machala, especially on main roads with high vehicular congestion, is essential for safe and efficient traffic flow. Since the 1980s, researchers have been seeking road safety behavior models on rural roads, considering factors such as road consistency and their relation to accident rates. The lack of proper signaling on the Limón road has led to road safety issues for both drivers and pedestrians, exacerbated by congestion at critical intersections due to traffic attractors like schools and wholesale markets, as well as the poor road conditions with sinkholes and potholes. The study focuses on evaluating road safety on the Limón road, understanding its theoretical basis, conducting technical assessments, and proposing solutions to enhance safety and prevent accidents. The assessment of the current state of road safety on the Limón road in the city of Machala was conducted using technical methods, allowing for the identification of the main causes of traffic accidents on this road and proposing effective solutions to enhance safety and prevent future accidents. Methodologies supported by standards such as the Ecuadorian Technical Regulation INEN, AASHTO regulations, and the Road Capacity Manual 2000 were employed to ensure road safety on the Limón road. This technical approach provided precise data on the current state of the road, including average speeds, traffic counts, and the condition of traffic signals. The results of the road signaling analysis and the traffic study over five days offer a comprehensive view of the state and operation of the evaluated road. The Signaling State Index (SSI) of 4.27, classified as "POOR," reveals deficient regulatory signaling on the road, as specified in evaluation groups 2 and 3. Additionally, the traffic analysis indicates that, although the average speed of 36 km/h complies with urban road safety regulations, the high vehicular flow results in a maximum average speed ranging from 20 to 40 km/h, underscoring the need to improve both signaling and traffic management on the road to ensure road safety for users. As a solution to vehicular congestion in the study area, expanding Limón Road to four lanes, extending it towards El Macho Canal, with the construction of a cantilever wall to support the necessary fill mass for this expansion, ensuring ground stability, is proposed. This improvement would increase traffic capacity and reduce vehicular congestion, enhancing traffic flow and mitigating environmental and acoustic impacts in the residential area